The cobras in Ancient Egypt

The cobras in Ancient Egypt held great and special sanctity and status.

It is one of the largest and most active types of venomous snakes in Africa and it held a very special place among the ancient Egyptians due to its religious and royal symbolism. 

There are many images and wall inscriptions that prominently feature the cobra in temples such as those in Luxor and Aswan.

In this article, we will learn about the symbolic importance of the cobras in Ancient Egypt and the most important known facts about it.

The snake, in general, symbolizes contradictory concepts in ancient Egyptian civilization, such as good, fertility and renewal and sometimes it symbolizes evil, chaos and darkness. 

The ancient Egyptians sometimes believed that some snakes symbolized magical power and the ability to protect against evil spirits and enemies.

One of the most famous and important positive snake symbols in ancient Egypt is the royal cobra.

The Egyptian Uraeus is an artistic representation of the rearing cobra serpent, symbolizing the protective goddess Wadjet.

She is one of the most famous Egyptian goddesses represented in the form of a cobra.

Pharaohs usually had her image engraved on the front of their foreheads, heads, or crowns for adornment and to seek her divine protection and care.

There is no single god of snakes in general, but the goddess Wadjet (Udjat) is the deity primarily associated with the cobra and its royal and protective symbolism. She represents protection, power and royal sovereignty to them.

The god or goddess associated with snakes was sometimes depicted in the form of a woman wearing a green robe and holding a crown or symbol with many snakes on it.

There are many facts and pieces of information that have been proven or believed about the cobras in Ancient Egypt.

Among the most prominent of these facts and beliefs are:

• The Egyptian cobra is considered one of the most dangerous venomous snakes on the African continent.
• The cobra held a significant religious and symbolic status among the ancient Egyptians.
• There are numerous images and inscriptions where the cobra was frequently depicted in Egyptian temples and tombs.
• The cobra was iconically drawn on the crowns and jewelry of the pharaonic rulers.
• The goddess Wadjet was sometimes represented as a woman with a cobra head or as a winged cobra.
• Some ancient historians like Plutarch mentioned that Queen Cleopatra, possibly upon hearing the news of her lover Mark Antony’s death, fell into a state of deep grief.
• The Egyptian cobra is indeed one of the most dangerous types of venomous snakes in the world; a single bite, if not treated immediately, can end a person’s life relatively quickly.
• The Egyptian cobra is known for its relatively large head, wide and round eyes and strong cylindrical body.
• The Egyptian cobra is primarily found in North African countries, living in dry areas and also agricultural regions.
• The Egyptian cobra usually lives in grasslands, agricultural lands and semi-desert areas near water sources.
• The cobra primarily feeds on various prey such as rodents, small mammals, birds, frogs and other small reptiles.

Historians and folklorists narrate that ancient Egyptian folk tales sometimes mentioned the Nile cobra as a creature that was both dangerous and sacred simultaneously.

It is naturally widespread in the Delta governorates and the Nile Valley, appearing in relatively large numbers during the mating and flood seasons.

The Nile cobra is a very dangerous and venomous snake, posing a real threat to human life and other animals.

Snakes and cobras in ancient Egypt were mentioned in many important Egyptian myths.

They often symbolized power, protection and kingship. In some other cultures, they symbolized healing and fertility. Some cultures considered snakes eternally immortal, believing they reincarnate when they die because they shed their skin. 

Egyptian myths represented some snakes as eternal, like the serpent Apep or Ouroboros, surrounding the world.

There are many hymns and religious prayers that were offered to the protective serpent or to ward off the danger of the evil serpent, as the ancient Egyptians believed that gods could sometimes manifest in the form of a serpent.

In another myth from Deir el-Medina, it was told that a loyal worker working in a tomb was visited by the goddess Meretseger in the form of a snake, who saved him or healed him from his illness.

Snakes were very important in Egyptian culture as symbols of fertility, protection, sovereignty, power, renewal, immortality and also evil and chaos. Therefore, they were mentioned numerous and varied times in ancient Egyptian myths.

It was mentioned that a primordial serpent god named Nehebkau represented the symbol of vital energy and primeval man for the pharaohs.

He also protects the deceased in his afterlife and provides him with sustenance.

The cobras in Ancient Egypt were mentioned, drawn and sculpted very often because it held a special status and powerful symbolism for the ancient Egyptians.

The image of the cobra spread clearly in many Egyptian temples, the most famous being the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, Karnak and others. 

This shows the extent of the ancient Egyptian’s reverence and respect for the cobra snake as a royal and divine symbol.

Among the most prominent inscriptions showing the importance of the cobra in Egyptian culture is the drawing of the cobra with the sun disk on the head of the god Ra, Horus, or others.

It was also drawn on the front of the royal crown because it signifies authority, influence and divine protection.

The drawing of the cobra was added to the double crown or the unified crown of Upper and Lower Egypt which symbolizes the king’s protection and care for Egypt.

In the Old Kingdom era and later, the Egyptians venerated the cobra and it was one of the most important symbols placed on the rulers’ crowns. 

The goddess Wadjet was depicted as a woman holding the head of a cobra serpent.

The cobra also appeared in temple reliefs wrapping around the papyrus plant which symbolizes the North, showing the importance of the Egyptian cobra in Egyptian culture and symbolism.

In modern and ancient Egypt, there are other different types of snakes besides the cobra.

Among the most famous types currently present or depicted anciently are:

• Pale Viper (or Saw-scaled Viper): It lives in the sandy and dry regions of Egypt. It is extremely dangerous to humans due to its potent venom. It is characterized by its sandy or sometimes reddish color and the presence of dark lines or spots on its back.
• Indian Viper (or Carpet Viper/Levant Viper): This dangerous viper is also found in the sandy and rocky areas of Egypt. It is characterized by its ability to slightly change its color shade depending on where it lives. It primarily feeds on rodents, insects, small birds, amphibians and spiders.
• Horned Viper: Named so because it has horn-like protrusions above its eyebrows. It lives among rocks and sand in desert areas and usually reaches a length of about 60 cm.

The cobras in Ancient Egypt represented sovereignty, influence, divine and royal protection and was added to many inscriptions and symbols found on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples.

This illustrates the great and complex status of the cobra among the ancient Egyptians.

Why are cobras sacred in ancient Egypt?

The cobra was revered and venerated in ancient Egypt because it primarily symbolized power, influence and royal protection. It represented the goddess Wadjet, who was one of the deities of kingship and the protection of Lower Egypt for the ancient Egyptians.

Are cobras native to Morocco?

The Egyptian cobra’s native habitat includes North African countries, including Egypt and parts of the Sahara desert, from semi-desert environments, agricultural areas and savannas near water. Other types of cobras may be found extending to Morocco and West Africa.

What do Egyptian cobras eat?

The Egyptian cobra mainly feeds on mice, rodents, frogs, other reptiles, birds and sometimes small mammals.

Why do Egyptians like cobras?

It cannot be said that they “loved” them in an emotional sense, but they valued their symbolism. Because it symbolizes authority, power, kingship and divine protection. It was drawn for this reason on the crowns of rulers during the time of the ancient Egyptians.